Flash lamp support



y 6, 1953 R. WESTRA 2,833,87 6

FLASH LAMP SUPPORT Filed July 11. 1956 3o29 272s 2| 39 3 I 4 26 35 25FIG, 3 INVENTOR "'1.- REINDER WESTRA AGENT United tates Patent FLASHLAM? SUPPORT Reinder Westra, Eindhoven, Netherlands, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to North American Philips Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 11, 1956, Serial No.597,218

Claims priority, application Netherlands .luly 1), 1955 6 Claims. (Cl.Nil-51.03)

As is well known, a photographic flash lamp can be used only once andthen has to be replaced by another one. This replacement, which isparticularly inconvenient when a plurality of photographs must be madein succession, can be avoided by the use of so-called flash lampsupports. Such a support carries a number of lamps and is permanentlysecured to the associated battery and switch, hereinafter to be referredto as current supply. In this known flash lamp support a number of lampsare inserted in the support for making a number of photographs. When alamp has been used, the support is moved to a subsequent position, sothat, in making another photograph, another lamp is used which isalready provided in the support. This construction has a limita tion inthat, when all the lamps provided in the support have been used, theentire mechanism, inclusive of the current supply, must be renderedinoperative in order to enable new lamps to be inserted into thesupport. It is also known to use a flash lamp support comprising asingle lampholder and a magazine provided with means by which a usedflash lamp is removed from the lampholder and a new lamp is conveyedfrom the magazine to the lampholder. However, this construction iscomparatively complicated and requires the use of flash lamps of anunusual type.

The flash lamp support in accordance with the present invention obviatesthese disadvantages. This flash lamp support is characterized in that itis provided with means by which it can be secured to an associatedcurrent supply so as to be immediately detachable mechanically andelectrically. The support comprises a table provided with a number offlash lamp holders and, in addition, a switching mechanism such that,when the support is secured to the current supply, the flash lampsprovided in the support can be ignited in a predetermined sequence.

Thus, a very simple flash lamp support is obtained. When all the flashlamps provided in the support have been used, the support together withthe lamps provided in it can be removed from the current supply by asingle manipulation and another support provided with new lamps can bemounted immediately. Consequently, a photographer who uses the flashlamp support in accordance with the invention, will lose hardly any timewhen exchanging supports. In addition, these supports can be constructedso as to be very simple, so that there is no objection to purchasing twoor more supports.

If, according to a favourable embodiment of the invention, the means bywhich the support is secured to an associated current supply so as to beimmediately detachable, are designed as a bayonet lamp holder, theadvantage is obtained that the support in accordance with the inventioncan be used with all current supplies for use with flash lamps providedwith a bayonet lamp-cap. Thus, a product is obtained which anyphotographer who has a flash lamp apparatus for use with the most usualflash lamps, can afiord.

If, according to a further embodiment of the invention,

the flash lamp support is designed so that the table forms 2,833,876.Patented May 6, 195a an integral structure with a reflector, a supportis obtained which is very simple and is particularly suited to besubstituted for the usual reflector which is rigidly secured to theflash lamp apparatus, for in some cases the available reflector mayprovide insuflicient accommodation for the flash lamp support inaccordance with the invention.

In order to enable the flash lamps provided in the support to be ignitedin a predetermined sequence, according to a further embodiment of theinvention, the said table may be made movable, more particularlyrotatable, relatively to the means provided on the support for securingthe latter to an associated current supply, the switching mechanismbeing operated by the movement of the table relative to the means ofattachment.

If, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the flashlampholders provided in the table are meant to be used with flash lampshaving side contacts, the used lamps can be removed from the support byexerting a simple pressure. This applies particularly to the case wherethe table is provided with apertures for receiving the lamp-caps, whichapertures extend from its front-side to its rear-side. In this event thelamps can be pressed out from the table by hand. It is structurallysimple to design the table as a flat plate.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawing. This drawing shows one embodiment of a flash-lampholder in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 1 is a side-view of the holder.

Fig. 2 is a front-view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-section of the holder drawn to anenlarged scale.

The support substantially comprises a substantially vertical support 1which is rotatable relatively to the means by which this holder isattached to a current supply (not shown) so as to be immediatelydetachable both mechanically and electrically. The current supply inmost cases will be the usual flash lamp apparatus, i. e. a device whichcontains a current supply, a switch to be coupled to the camera shutterand a flash lamp holder. In the present case, these means consist of aprojection 2 designed as a bayonet lamp-cap.

As will be seen particularly from Fig. 3 the support 1 has a flangedpart 3 which is integral with a central projection 4. These two partsare made of insulating material. The part 3 is provided with sixaperturesS, 6,7, 8, 9 and 10, into which sleeves 11 to 16 made frominsulating material also are pressed. As will be seen particularly fromFig. 2, the inner wall of these sleeves is not circular. In each sleeve,two curved contacts are secured which, in the sleeve 11, are denoted byreference numerals 17 and 18.

A metal cap 20 which is shaped in the form of a bayonet lamp-cap and isprovided with bayonet pins 21 and 22, is moved over the centralprojection 4 and secured thereto by means of a securing-bolt 23, thehead 24 of which engages the end-face 26 of the metal cap in the innerposition of a washer 25 made of insulating material. The extreme rim ofthis cap 20 is provided with six apertures 27. A ball 30 which is actedupon by a spring 29 is arranged in a recess 28 of the projection 4. Themanner in which the cap 20 is attached to the member 3-4 made ofinsulating material permits the latter to rotate relatively to the cap20; due to the co-operation of the spring-controlled ball 30 and theapertures 27 provided in the cap 20, the member 3-4 can assume sixpreferred positions with respect to the cap 20.

The curved contacts 17 are each connected through a contact strip 32 toa metal ring 33 secured to the outer periphery of the flanged part 3,which ring in turn is connected through a metal conductor 34 to thesecuring 3 bolt 23, for the end 35 of this metal strip is pressedagainst the flanged part 3 by means of the nut 36 provided on the bolt23.

In addition, the curved contacts 18 are electrically-connected-each toone of six metal strips'38 which arearranged onthe surface of theflanged part 3 and are held to this table owing to the fact that theircentrally directed ends are accommodated in recesses 39 provided in theprojection 4. A metal wire strap 40 is secured to the outer surface ofthe cap by soldering and, on rotation of the table relative to the cap,is brought into contact with .each'of the 'metal strips 38 insuccessionand thus, when the lamp-holder concerned contains a lamp, completes acircuit the battery and the main switch of which are situated in theassociated flash lamp apparatus (not shown). i

Fig, 1 shows rthe manner in which a reflector 54), which is indicated bybroken lines, can be secured to the support 1; adjacent itstop thisreflector is provided with apertures pf passage for the sleeves -11 to16 provided in the table. The reflector can be made integral with thetable by means of bolts (not shown) which are passed through associatedapertures 51, 52, 53 and 54 provided in the table 3. v

When the assembly shown in Fig. l is used, the support 1 can bepreviously provided with six lamps and held in readiness. If, now, anumber of flash lamps exposures have to be made, the assembly isinserted by means of thebayonet lamp-cap 2 in a flash lamp supplyapparatus at the point at which normally a single flash lamp only isarranged. When the circuit in the supply apparatus is completed one ofthe lamps provided in the support 1 will be ignited according to theposition of the contact strap 40. When the first photograph has beenmade, the support 1 must be rotated only through an angle of 60 to movethe next lamp into the operating position, while the cap 2 remainsinserted in the supply apparatus. This process of rotation can berepeated until the last lamp available'in the support has been used;then the entire assembly shown in Pig. 1 is removed from the supplyapparatus and replaced by another which may have been previouslyloaded.Even when a single device only is ava'ilable,-this .does not mean agreat loss of time. Owing -tothe fact that the lamps to be used areprovided with side contacts, they can'be removed from the holders by asimple movement in that pressure is exerted on'their rear-sides. Whenuse is made-oflampsl of the kind shown in Fig. Linwhichthe lamp-capcomprises parts of the bulb neck and of the'exhaust tube whichhave beenfused together this removal is very simple; by exerting pressure on thesealed exhaust-tube part 60 of the lamp 61 in the direction of the arrowP shown inFig. 1, this lamp is removed from the lampholder without anydifficulty, since it is only held by the clamping .force of the curvedcontacts 17 and 18. Inserting the lamps in the 4 holders can also beperformed very rapidly; the noncircular inner shape of the lampholderscauses the cap of a lamp to be inserted, which cap also shows anon-circular cross-section and is provided with the current supply leadson the part having the largest outer diameter, to take up the correctposition on insertion substantially automatically.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the means of attachingthe flash-lamp supports to the supply apparatus are shaped in the formof a bayonet lamp-cap. Obviously, these means of attachment may have adifferent shape without departing from the scope of the invention; as analternative, mention may be made of a plugin construction using plugsand sockets.

What is claimed is:

l. A multiple flash bulb holder comprising a support both electricallyand mechanically removable from said holder, means on said support forremovably holding a plurality. of flash bulbs, a switching arrangementoperatively and selectively connected to each of. said flash bulbs whensaid support is mounted in said holder whereby the flash bulbs areignited in a predetermined sequence.

2. A multiple flash :bulb holder as claimed in. claim I wherein saidsupport has a bayonet cap for removable insertion in .said holder.

3. A multiple flash bulb holder. as claimed in claim 1 -furthercomprising a reflector, and said reflector being integral with saidsupport.

4. A multiple flash-bulb :holdcr as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidmeans include resilient contact members which engagetheside of saidfiashbulb;

5. A multiple .fiash bulb holder ,as claimed in claim 4 whereinsaidmeans include apertures for receiving said flash bulbs, saidapertures extending completely througl said support.

6. A ,multipleflash bulb holder comprising a support both electricallyand mechanically removable from said holder, means on said support forremovably holding a plurality'of-flash bulbs, a switching arrangementoperatively' and'selectively connected to each of said flash. bulbs whensaid support is mounted in said holder whereby the flash bulbs areignited in a predetermined sequence, said switching. arrangement beingfixed, said support being relativelyfiatand being rotatable relative tosaid switching-arrangement whereby the rotation of said support causeseach ofisaid flash bulbs to'be selectively connected .to Said switching:arrangement, and said fiash bulbs extendingin a planeparallel tothe'central axisof said support. 1

References Cited in the file vofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

